Hey everyone! Welcome to my June 2021 reading wrap-up!
So, we have a little bit of a format change, here. Up until now, I’ve been including my monthly wrap-ups in the end-of-the-month subscriber newsletter. But I want to share these with everyone, so, from now on, I’ll just be posting them as normal posts.
But now, on to the wrap-up!
Magic, Television, & Marijuana by Matthew Berkman
Rating: 4/5
This book had a lot going for it. It had an exciting plot and a cast of well-written, interesting characters. Additionally, I loved the way Berkman wove magic into the real world. It was just incredibly well done. To be honest, my only real issue with this book was the pacing; at times, it felt a little slow and choppy. But that was mostly at the start, and it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
All in all, I suggest checking this one out if it sounds of interest to you!
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Rating: 5/5
I was so excited about this book, and it did not disappoint me; I absolutely loved it! Obviously, August and Jane stole my heart, but the side characters did, too. Honestly, I need to know where McQuiston comes up with these amazing people. But, anyway, One Last Stop was amazing and had the perfect balance of emotions. It made me laugh and want to cry in equal measure.
Seriously, if you haven’t read this one yet, you really need to! I promise you won’t be disappointed. As long as you enjoy contemporary romance, that is.
Beyond the Mirror by M.K. Williams and Natalie Kavanagh
Rating: 3.5/5
I really enjoyed this one. I mean, you can’t go wrong when you combine science fiction with secret societies, right? Anyway, I loved the plot of this book; it kept me wholly captivated for the entirety of the story. Additionally, I liked all of the characters and enjoyed reading about them. Though, to be fair, I do think some characters would have benefited from a little more development.
But all things considered, I recommend checking this one out. If you like science fiction, then this might be the book for!
The Eighth Key by Laura Weyr
Rating: 4.5/5
I absolutely loved this one, too! It had the perfect balance of common epic fantasy tropes and unique ideas, and it just blew me away. I also really liked the characters; both Lucian and Corwin were so entertaining. (Look, Lucian is a Bard. Enough said.) Additionally, their dynamic was seriously incredible; even though their relationship progressed kind of quickly, it was believable because of how well-written and natural their chemistry was.
Overall, it was a great book and I highly recommend giving it a try!
Reckless by Carolyn O’Doherty
Rating: 3.5/5
Yet another book I really enjoyed this month! Honestly, it had been way too long since I’d read a dystopian story, so this was a great addition to my June reading. And it definitely met my expectations. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, and I especially loved the time-bending elements. I really couldn’t put this one down.
So, if you’re a fan of dystopian fiction or science fiction, I recommend checking this one out. It has a balance between the two, in my opinion, so it’s a good book for fans of either.
The Last Shadow Knight by Michael Webb
Rating: 4/5
I participated in the book tour for this one. And I’m so, so glad I did because I really enjoyed reading this. You already know I love epic fantasy, but this one, in particular, is just incredibly good. I liked that we followed the characters from a young age, so we could see how they developed and changed over the years. I also liked all the different perspectives Webb incorporated into the story; you know I’m a sucker for multiple points of view, after all.
All things considered, I definitely recommend reading this one!
Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh
Rating: 4/5
After seeing countless posts about Renée Ahdieh books, I finally cracked and decided to read one myself. And I’m really happy I did because I loved this book! It wasn’t quite a five-star read for me, but it came close. I loved the world-building and how much detail Ahdieh put into everything. The characters were well-written, too. Ōkami stole my heart and even though Mariko was annoying at times, even that made sense for her character and her background. (Though, can I punch Kenshin? Please?)
So, if you’re a fan of YA fantasy, I recommend giving this one a try! It might not be for everyone, but I really liked it, and I hope you do, too.
The Outlands by Tyler Edwards
Rating: 3.5/5
Okay, I know I said Reckless satiated my need for dystopian fiction, but, honestly, it remained mildly present until I read The Outlands. This book had all the classic dystopian/sci-fi elements that I love. Additionally, the plot was incredibly exciting. It took a different turn from what I predicted, but I actually loved that; it was something of a nice surprise. Honestly, my only problem with this book was the choice of narrator. I don’t mean to say that Jett was terrible, but so many of the side characters stole the show!
Still, if you like this genre, I recommend checking this one out. I enjoyed it, and you most likely will, too.
Shadow’s Angel by Leesa Ellen
Rating: 3.5/5
I can finally say I have read a “dog book.” Obviously, I’ve seen countless movies about dogs (and other pets, I guess) but I’d never read a book focused on dogs until this one. Anyway, I really enjoyed how Ellen twisted the traditional storyline of a dog searching for a deceased owner. The plot of this book wasn’t exactly the opposite of that, but it was definitely a unique play on that trope.
If this sounds like a book you’d enjoy, I’d recommend giving it a try. This was pretty far outside of my usual preferences, and I still enjoyed it; so, I think I can easily say that this is a good one!
So, I hope you enjoyed this June 2021 wrap-up. I also read Only Mostly Devastated and Darius the Great Is Not Okay this month, but I have yet to write and post those reviews. I really enjoyed them both, though! (I’ll link them here when I write them, but I’ll also include them in my July wrap-up post.)
Anyway, if you’ve read any of these books or if you read them in the future, drop a comment down below and let me know your thoughts! Or, feel free to comment on one of my Bookstagram posts. Either way, I always love to talk about books!
Also, if you enjoyed this June 2021 reading wrap-up, feel free to use the Extras tab above to find more fun list posts! You can find a lot of the books I love, there.
